Silver Nanoparticle-Impregnated Agricultural Waste Biomass as a Greener Pathway in Sustainable Wastewater Treatment: A Review

Abstract

The growing contamination of water bodies necessitates sustainable and cost-effective wastewater treatment methods. The integration of silver nanoparticles with agricultural waste biomass offers promising solutions for improving remediation efficiency. Silver nanoparticles, renowned for their potent antimicrobial and catalytic properties among other attributes, have emerged as effective agents in water purification. Concurrently, agricultural waste biomass such as rice husk, banana peels, coconut shell, fiber and coir, corn cobs, sugar cane bagasse, etc., offers not only a renewable, abundant, and eco-friendly substrate for nanoparticle immobilization but also contributes to environmental sustainability through waste valorization. The incorporation of silver nanoparticles imparts enhanced antimicrobial, adsorption, and catalytic properties that improve the degradation of organic pollutants and inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms. This review critically evaluates recent advancements in the synthesis, characterization, and application of silver nanoparticles impregnated in agricultural waste biomass for wastewater treatment. Emphasis is placed on green synthesis routes leveraging plant extracts and intrinsic functional groups within biomass to facilitate nanoparticle formation and stabilization. The integration of silver nanoparticles enhances the disinfection potential of the biomass as well as its sorption capacity and reactivity, enabling the removal of heavy metals, dyes, and microbial contaminants. This review discusses adsorption, catalytic degradation, impregnation factors, environmental fate, toxicity concerns, and regeneration potential of silver nanoparticle functionalized bio-adsorbents in wastewater remediation.